How-To's of Catch n' Release

Because muskie are not abundant and take many years to reach large sizes, catch-and-release is a valuable tool in maintaining quality muskie fisheries. By releasing a muskie, you have improved the odds that someone else, or even yourself, will catch a muskie on another trip--only next time it will have grown! It is very important to follow a few basic guidelines when catching and releasing muskie to prevent harm to the fish or yourself. A large, thrashing fish with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and hooks can be a problem if not handled correctly. For successful release, follow the simple guidelines listed below. Tips on Releasing Muskie

Only play the fish long enough to easily land. Playing a muskie to complete exhaustion can make it difficult to revive.

Whenever possible, release the fish while it is still in the water. If you use a large landing net, once netted, leave the fish in the water while still in the net so it can continue to breath. Beware—the muskie's sharp teeth and its powerful body can thrash without warning and cause damage to you or the fish. Use long pliers to remove the hooks, cutting the hooks that can not be removed easily. Barbless hooks make hook removal much easier.

Do not keep the muskie out of the water for a lengthy picture-taking session. A ruler taped to the outside of the boat will allow for rapid measurement and release. Weights can be derived from length-weight charts. You can estimate the weight of your muskie using the following formula: length x girth x girth/800=estimated weight. Length and weight are measured in inches and girth is measured at the thickest part of the muskie.

Never hold the fish by the eye sockets or gills.

Hold the unhooked muskie horizontally while supporting the belly with one hand. This will prevent the muscles and vertebrae from being separated or broken.

To release the fish, hold the muskie in the water horizontally. When the muskie is revived, it will swim out of your hands.